What is What is WHOIS? - Definition?

WHOIS definition

WHOIS (pronounced as "who is") is a protocol and a database system that stores and provides information about domain names and IP addresses. WHOIS is typically used to look up information about the owner of a domain name or IP address, including contact information and the date of registration.

The WHOIS database is maintained by various organizations, such as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for domain names, and the Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) for IP addresses.

When you perform a WHOIS lookup, you can find information such as:

• The registrant (owner) of the domain name or IP address
• The administrative and technical contacts for the domain or IP
• The date of registration and expiration
• The name servers for the domain
• The registrar (the organization that registered the domain)

WHOIS data is publicly available and can be accessed through various WHOIS clients or web-based WHOIS lookup tools, it is also used by law enforcement agencies and other organizations to track down cyber criminals and other malicious actors.

It is worth noting that WHOIS data is not always accurate or up-to-date and, in some cases, personal information may be removed or obscured (like GDPR regulations) in order to protect the privacy of the registrant.